When I select a package for installation using aptitude-curses, sometimes a huge list of extra packages appear selected under "Packages being automatically installed to satisfy dependencies". When I go through this list I see that some packages are there only because the one I was installing in the first place recommends it.

Is there a way that I can set up aptitude so that these packages are not marked for installation, but instead appear in some sort of list like the "Packages which are suggested by other packages" already do?

I am ashamed to admit that the per invocation method suits me better. Ashamed because it was in the manpage :). I really appreciate the permanent method, though, I'll see if most of the time I use it without recommends and might just set it permanently if that is the case.
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Jacobo de VeraMay 17 '12 at 10:28